The 151-year-old banyan tree along Front Street in the town of Lahaina survived a fire last August. Thanks to the efforts of arborists and dedicated volunteers, parts of the tree have grown back and are even thriving.

How important is the Lahaina banyan tree?

The banyan tree is the oldest living tree on Maui but is not native to the Hawaiian Islands. India sent it as a gift to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the first Protestant missionaries arriving in Lahaina. It was planted in 1873.

The tree has become famous and beloved by millions of visitors to Maui over the years. But for many others, it is a symbol of the colonial regime that stripped Native Hawaiians of their land and suppressed their language and culture.

According to many oral traditions, the banyan tree has been the heart of the coastal community and a gathering place along the Lahaina River for generations. It stands over 60 feet tall and is anchored by multiple rhizomes that span nearly 10 square feet.

This giant banyan tree casts shade with its majestic spreading canopy. Roots hang down from the upper branches and eventually attach themselves to the ground to become a new trunk. The branches spread out and become roosting grounds for flocks of birds.

What happened to the Lahaina banyan tree in the fire?

The 2023 fire burned and charred much of the tree, but it was not caused by the flames themselves but by the intense heat from the fire, said Duane Sparkman, president of the Maui Arborist Commission. About half of the tree’s branches died from the loss of moisture.

“Once that part of the tree withers, it can’t recover,” he said. However, other parts of the tree are now growing back healthily.

How is the Lahaina banyan tree restored?

Arborists and dedicated volunteers have been trying to revive the tree by removing dead branches so that energy can be focused on the living branches, Sparkman said.

To track that energy, 14 sensors were screwed into the tree to track the flow of cambium, or sap, through its branches. “It’s basically a heart monitor. As we worked on the tree, we saw the heartbeat get stronger and stronger and stronger,” Sparkman said.

He said there are also plans to install vertical tubes to support the plant's secondary roots. These tubes will contain compost to provide the branches with vital nutrients as they take root in the soil.

A planned irrigation system will also deliver small drops of water into the tubes. The goal is to help these lateral roots become permanent roots. The system will also irrigate the surrounding soil and the tree canopy.

“There are a lot of long branches with hundreds of leaves growing back on the tree,” Mr Sparkman said, adding that some of the branches are even producing fruit. “It’s amazing to see so much of the tree growing back.”

What other trees were burned in the fire?

Sparkman estimates Lahaina lost about 25,000 trees in the fire, including fruit trees that people planted in their yards as well as trees that have important meanings in Hawaiian culture, such as ulu and breadfruit trees.

Since the fire, a group of botanists, farmers and landscapers, including Mr. Sparkman, have begun trying to save the ulu and other culturally important trees. Before colonialism, commercial agriculture and tourism, thousands of breadfruit trees dotted Lahaina.

To help restore Lahaina’s trees, Sparkman founded a nonprofit called Treecovery. He said the group has planted about 3,500 trees in “mini nurseries” around the island, including some hotels, until they are ready for people to take home.

“We have cultivation centers all over Maui that are growing these trees for as long as possible. So when they’re ready, we can have people come pick them up and they can plant them in their yards. It’s important that we do this for families,” Sparkman said.

Hoai Phuong (according to AP)